Etcetera: British Arts & Disability Newsletter

Long is the Road

Long is the road to freedom
Twisting and turning about
Hard is the path to knowledge
Of this I have no doubt

Far is the journey to being
At last in the right place
Where everything is shown clearly
But that's at the end of the race

So I'll go on my own journey
Trek foreword mile after mile,
Not knowing the answers, yet knowing
Soon, once again, I shall smile

For now I may not see all clearly
And tears stain my pillow at night
But soon all the anguish and dross will be gone
When I come to the end of the fight

Now I see something on my horizon
Far away? No not any more.
It's meandering now, ever closer,
Washing up on my very own shore

So I'll go down, collect up the driftwood
Both flotsam and jetsam are mine
Lay claim to all that I own by right
As this is the foreknown time.

Money and Politics: No Human Rights for Disabled People
Human rights are not for disabled people, says a Member of the European Parliament. On 8 March 2004 Mr Gahler MEP, member of the PPE, blocked the voting of the European Parliament report on "Human Rights in the world in 2003 and the EU policy on the matter", calling for the chapter on the rights of disabled people to be deleted. The voting of the EP report was planned for last Monday, but had to be postponed until the 16th of March due to the firm opposition of Mr. Gahler, who considers that exposing the violation of disabled people's rights from all over the world has no place in a Human Rights report of the European Parliament. The European Disability Forum (EDF) was also informed that Mr Gahler opposed to the report because "including a chapter on disability will make the notion of Human Rights, a commonplace". In reply, Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum says "Disabled people from all over the world face discrimination and violence on daily basis. The right to live is systematically denied to children with disabilities in many countries; others have to experience degrading and inhuman treatment in establishments and institutions. In many cases, abuses have resulted in the death of the victims. The European Parliament, the closest institution to European citizens, has to expose these violations and to protect the human rights of all people, whether they are women or men, people with disabilities or non disabled people".

For the European Disability Forum excluding disability from the scope of Human Rights is an unacceptable position put forward only three months after the European Year of People with Disabilities, a European campaign that mainly focused in guaranteeing Human Rights for disabled people. Moreover, it is in complete contradiction with previous EP positions, such as the European Parliament's full support for a United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled People."

We all hope that the PPE will not support Mr. Ghaler's position, and that the Report on "Human Rights in the world in 2003 and the European Union's policy in the matter", will contain a chapter on disability.

For more information contact:
Sophie Beaumont,
EDF Parlamentary and Policy Officer,
Tel: + 32 2 282 46 02 or + 32 473 98 34 89;
Helena González-Sancho,
EDF Communication Officer
Tel: +32-2-282.46.04
E-mail: communication@edf-feph.org

Get Involved: Young Disabled Artists for Hungarian Festival
The National Federation of Disabled Persons' Associations (MEOSZ) in Hungary, advocating for the rights and interests of people with physical disabilities, working in cooperation with NGOs of people with other disabilities, organises national cultural festivals with participation of disabled artists and their friends every two years. For next year MEOSZ would like to invite young disabled people from Europe who like to sing. The event will include all kinds of music: solo, choir, group, with or without instrumental accompaniment, classical music, pop music, or folk music, etc.

If you know young disabled people between 16 and 30 years of age interested in participating, please contact :
Eva Caesar,
Coordinator for international affairs,
MEOSZ, H-1032 Budapest,
San Marco Str. 76,
Phone/Fax: +36-250-9013
Website: www.meosz.hu

Board Members
Momentum Arts (formerly Eastern Touring Agency) wishes to recruit new Board Members. Working across four programme areas - Cultural Diversity, Social Inclusion and Regeneration, Promoters' Network and Initiatives in the East of England, Momentum Arts collaborates to create impetus for change.

They are looking for Board Members with experience of at least two of the four programme areas and the Region and other strategic key skills areas. Meetings are held quarterly in Cambridge and Board Members are expected to work closely with the Senior Management Team. Their Board members receive no remuneration, but personal expenses for travel, including child and dependants' care will be paid.

Momentum Arts are fully committed to the provision of equal access and opportunity and welcome the widest possible range of applications in order to increase the diversity of their Board.

To apply (large print or tape available), either download a copy from the website at www.momentumarts.org.uk resources or contact Siena Balakrishnan on 01223 500202. Deadline for completed applications is Tuesday 13 April 2004.

Drama Facilitator
Full Circle Arts, Manchester's Disability Arts Development agency are seeking to contract a Drama Facilitator to develop film shorts as part of their 2004 young disabled people's project - 2020 Vision. 2020 Vision is a Greater Manchester wide project developing short films with young disabled people aged 15-25.

The work will involve 3 day residencies in the Summer half term holiday (1st/2nd/3rd June) and full time from 19th July for two weeks and 9th August for two weeks. The project is divided into five 3 day residencies in the different districts of Gtr Manchester as well as a two week project in the city centre.

2020 Vision aims to work with up to 20 young people in each residency and explore the relationship between disability and new technologies. Each three day residency will work towards producing a 30 second - one minute film. The two week city centre project will draw up to 20 young people from all of the residencies - those young people that have shown a clear commitment and enthusiasm for the work. They will use material developed in the residencies as a stimulus for further video and drama work. They are wishing to contract an experienced drama worker and would ideally like to work with an artist who identifies themselves as disabled. Full Circle have a policy of employing disabled people for face-to-face work with disabled young people, however, if a disabled artist cannot be identified, Full Circle will seek to employ non-disabled artists with experience of working with disabled communities.

Applicants should be available for all of the above dates and have extensive experience of working with young people in cross-art form work. Experience and knowledge of disability arts and culture is desirable.

A full project brief is available by email from jade@fullcirclearts.co.uk or contact
Graeme Urlwin,
Freelance Projects Manager
0161 279 7878 on a Thursday only
or 0161 257 0591 at all other times.

Interested artists should give Graeme a quick call or email to graeme@fullcirclearts.co.uk to register their interest by Friday 26th March 2004.

The Oska Bright Film Festival: Showcasing film by people with learning disabilities
The first Carousel Film Festival will be held in November 2004 as part of The Brighton Film Festival, CINECITY. Prizes for films will be awarded in three categories. Best 1 minute film Best 5 minute film Best 10 minute film.

They can accept submissions by mini DV (pref) or VHS. If you are a person with a learning disabilities or a group who support people with learning disabilities to make a film and you would like to submit to the festival then please contact them for a pack: (01273) 234734, or write to
Carousel Community Base,
113 Queens Road,
Brighton BN1 3XG.
Email projects@carousel.org.uk.

BBC Actors' Database
BBC Drama Series Casting Department is setting up a disabled actors database. They would welcome all disabled actors who would like to be included in the database to send in their details. Please include a CV & Photograph. Contact:
David Pain,
Rm DG 20,
BBC Centre House,
Wood Lane, London W12 8SB.

Training & Workshops: Stockpile!
North West Disability Arts Forum is holding a focus day for Creative Self -employed or Enterprises - targeting Disabled and Deaf arts practitioners. It will be held in Liverpool at the CENTRE FOR ARTS DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING (CADT) 2a Franceys St, Liverpool L3 5YQ - from 10:30am - 4:00pm on: Friday 19th March 2004.

Topics for the day: Pricing your work - Commissions and Tenders & The importance of targeted marketing.

The day will be delivered in partnership with CADT and NWDAF using specialised tutors. Sign Language Interpreters are already in place and the course is FREE and open to all. If you are interested please book in now stating access requirements. Travel expenses for those based in the North West region will be covered.

Contact NWDAF - joanne@nwdaf.co.uk or fax: 0151 708 9355, tel: 0151 707 1733, minicom: 0151 706 0365. Or write: NWDAF, MPAC Building, 1-27 Bridport Street, Liverpool L3 5QF.

Art History Residential Weekends Summer Schools for Visually Impaired People
The Centre for Access and Communication Studies at the University of Bristol will be running 2 art history residential weekends summer schools for visually impaired adults in Bristol this year.

In June, Form and Function: European Art and Architecture of the 1920's and 1930's will introduce and explore some of the major European movements in art and architecture of the early 20th century; in October, The Influence of Europe - British Art in the 1920s and 1930s will examine what impact the major European movements of the early 20th century had upon the development of British painting and sculpture in the 1920s and 1930s.

Lectures will be supported by gallery visits and tactile diagrams and objects will all be used to bring the subjects to life. Each student on the course is accompanied by a sighted guide - either someone they know, or a trained volunteer.

This is the 22nd year of the University of Bristol's residential courses that are totally accessible to visually impaired adults.

For further information please contact Kate Thomas, Organising Tutor, Centre for Access and Communication Studies, tel 0117 954 5718, Email kate.thomas@bristol.ac.uk.

HearFirst Deaf / Disability Awareness Training
HearFirst can deliver Deaf or Disability Awareness Training Workshops in -house or you can book places on one of their open courses in Haslingden, Lancashire. All course are delivered by deaf or disabled tutors.

Introduction to Disability Equality & Awareness - A lively 1 day workshop suitable for anyone who meets disabled people within their role. It would also be valuable to managers who wish to improve their organisation's culture/behaviour towards disabled people. Available dates are 19th May 2004 or 20th October 2004. Price is GBP 90 per person (includes certificate, handouts, folder and pen.)

This course is designed to:

• Use participants' own objectives to encourage confidence in working with disabled people in a professional way.
• Discover what disability means, causes of disability and disablement, social and medical models and social inclusion.
• Identify and recognise problems and issues that are faced by disabled people, and how to counter these.
• Help organisations comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and help individuals understand 'reasonable adjustment'.

Communication Tactics with Deaf People - An interactive day where delegates learn good communication strategies to use with ALL deaf people AND get a chance to obtain a nationally recognised qualification.

Available dates are 23rd June 2004 and 10th November 2004. Price is GBP 125 per person (includes exam, handouts, folder and pen.)

This course is designed to:

• Give background information about deaf issues including Deaf Awareness Training.
• Promote positive action by enabling candidates to understand the nature of barriers which exist between themselves and deaf people.

Booking forms and further details about these courses (and others) are available on at www.hearfirst.org.uk or contact Julie Ryder on 01706 872816 or minicom 01706 872908.

Got Some Spare Time? Angela Edmonds Ten Year Retrospective Exhibition
The Richard Attenborough Arts Centre University of Leicester University Road Leicester LE 1 9HN March 8th - April 6th 2004 Monday to Friday 10am till 4.30pm. Tel: (0) 116 252 2455.

'Angela Edmonds has had her work exhibited regularly since 1988 in Private and Public Galleries across the UK and also in Japan, Germany and the USA. Her work has won major prizes and awards and encompassed a range of media including large - scale drawing, installation, assemblage and photography.

This exhibition brings together recent and new work alongside work from the past ten years which charts a transitional period in the artists' practice, marking a departure from her earlier more expressionistic and gestural drawings of urban and rural landscapes to more iconic drawings and photographs which depict her own assemblages.

Revisiting this work it becomes clear that there has been a consistency at its core, an engagement with the body as a receptacle and signifier of emotions and experiences, together with a knowing dark humour informed by Surrealism and Psychoanalytic theory. More recently there has been an appropriation of objects related to the body, such as an ashes casket, a feeding cup or a hot water bottle. The selected work charts a time when the artist became disabled with chronic back pain and fibromyalgia. Although no longer able to stand or sit to draw since 1998, she has decisively specialised in working with photography and small assemblages in order to continue her practice. In Angela Edmonds' work the extraneous is pared away until a resolution is found. With an economy of elements the artist creates a paradox where things are not quite what they seem; the normal becomes strange and takes on a metaphorical level of meaning in work which is both wilfully direct and uncompromising.'

© The National Disability Arts Forum 2004

The National Disability Arts Forum (NDAF)
Mea House, Ellison Place,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8XS
Phone 0191 261 1628,
Minicom 0191 261 2237,
Fax 0191 222 0573
Email ndaf@ndaf.org
Web site www.ndaf.org
Registered Charity No. 1021793
Subscribe address: EtCetera-subscribe@topica.com

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